Process for manufacturing shoes



March 27, 1934. C RIDDQCK 1,952,731

PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING SHOES Filed May 26, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet lMarch 27, 1934. c, M RIDDOCK 1,952,731

PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING SHOES Filed May 26, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 atzz fl facturing shoes.

:by the use of a center plate.

Patented Mar. 27, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

My present invention relates to an improved method for shoe manufactureand has for its object a process'whereby acheaper shoe maybe made in avery simple fashion.

Heretofore there have been several attempts to produce a shoe whichcould be made of a less expensive material and further furnish greatersimplicity in the manufacture thereof. Stitching is of primaryimportance in all shoe manufacturing processes and of course increasesthe unit cost of a shoe due to the expense of machines required to dothis work.

In my present process, I have produced a shoe which can be very cheaplymade of a fabric material which is characterized by a very novel designboth in arrangement of the elements and in coloring effects incorporatedin said elements. Moreover I have practically eliminated stitching fromthe process except at one point which is of a very simple nature. Iattain this result by'the use of a cement plate together with avulcanizing step. A part of the elements in my improved'shoe consist ofstrap members so arranged as to form loop portions which may be drawntogether by means of a cord or lacing to form the shoe upperincidentally resulting in a very novel design.

It is apparent that these members may be colored to enhance the noveltyof the design and it is still further apparent that by passing a cordthrough these loops greater facility in adjusting the shoe on the footis obtained.

The principal object of my invention is to produce, therefore, animproved method for manu- Another object of my invention is to produce aprocess for a shoe having some novelty due to coloring effects and inthe arrangement of the elements of the shoe.

Still another object is to producea process for a shoe which can besimply made and easily adjusted to thefoot.

Other objects and novel features comprising the construction and use ofmy shoe will appear as the description of my invention progresses.

Another object is to produce a process for shoe manufacture which formsa rand on the outsole In the accompanying drawings showing the preferredembodiment of my invention, Fig. 1 is a plan view of an inner soleshowing strap members attached thereto. 7 p

Fig. 2 is a plan view of inner sole reversed showwith the upper memberdrawn through the sym- 31 corresponding to the outline of the inner soleher sole as shown in Fig. 1 which consists of a fabric material coatedon the under side with a rubber film. 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16,17, 18, and19 indicate strap members of fabric material which are firmly attachedto inner sole 10 by nieans'of a rubber cement as shown in Fig. 1. Innersole 10 is now reversed, placed upon a second fabric surface 20 andstitched thereto as indicated at 32 in Fig. 2. The fabric surface 20 is76 considerably thinner than inner sole 10 and is coated on its upperside with some rubberized material which may be of any desired color. A

thin metal center plate 30 having an opening 10 is next placed uponinner sole 10 and strap members and sole are drawn up through theopening 31 leaving the finished fabric surface 20 in contact with thebottom of the metal plate 30 and fastened to the inner sole 10 by meansof said stitching. Although I prefer to show stitching in the drawings,it 'is not absolutely necessary that" stitching be used at this point asany other suitable binder may be used. The next step in my processconsists in placing a rubber sole member 21 in a. recess in the lowerdie member 35, adapted to conform said sole member to some shape asshown in Fig. 3, and then placing complete unit-as shown in Fig. 2 onrubber sole member 21 and inserting a heel member 22 between heelportion of member 21 and heel portion of unit shown in Fig. 2. Ifdesired, heel portion 22 and sole member 21 may comprise one unit. Afelt member 37 is now placed on top of the inner sole 10 as shown inFig. 3 and the top die member 36 is now placed on top of the felt member37. Heat is applied to die members 35 and 36'under pressure vulcaniz ingsole member 21 together with heel portion 22 solidily to fabric material20. After the vulcanizing operation is complete the shoe is removed fromthe die and the fabric material is trimmed off to conform to the outersole. Due to. the action of the upper die member 36 and thefelt member3''! the upper surface of inner sole member 10 results in a smoothwearing surface due to the fact that the upper surface of the rubberizedfabric 20 under the vulcanizing process adheres firmly to the under sideof the inner sole member 10. The slight indentations caused by the endsof the strap members projecting slightly below the bottom of the innersole member are filled in by the rand of the outer sole member 21 whenthe felt member is compressed against the top of the inner sole. Thefabric surface of the member 20 becoming vulcanized with the outer solemember 21 to the effect that the finished product becomes one solidifiedmass all the way through the sole portions of the shoe and therebyleaves the aforesaid finished top surface of the inner sole perfectlyfiat and smooth as shown in Fig. 3. Straps 12 and 19 are then broughttogether and fastened and strap 11 is passed over this junction and backunder it forming loop 24 and comprising the toe of the shoe. In the samefashion straps 15, 16 and 17 are brought together and fastened to formthe heel portion of said shoe as shown in Figs. 4; and 5, said strap 16passing around strap 14. The straps are preferably fastened by means ofsome cementing material although they may be handsewed. Members 18 and13 form loop portions 26 and 27 respectively which are inherent in theconstruction thereof. Likewise member 14 may be disposed to form loopportions 28 and 29. A cord or. lacing 23 passes through loop 29, acrossto loop 26, down to loop 24, returns through loop 27, and finally passesthrough loop 28 thereby causing said strap members to take a position asshown in Fig. 5 when tension is exerted upon the two ends of the lacing.

The action of the die in operation achieves several important resultssimultaneously due to the presence of the center plate 30 located uponthe, fabric member 20. As has been stated previously, the opening in thecenter plate 30 is symmetrically formed with respect to the inner sole10 but is smaller in size than the periphery of the outer sole with theresult that the outer portion of the periphery of the, out sole uponwhich, the plate bears, is depressed and an inner raised portionreferred to in the trade as the rand is formed.

In addition to, forming the rand, it is to be noted that the centerplate'bearing as it does upon the fabric member 20 conforms the latterto the shape of the rand and the outer depressed portion of the outersole and thereby disposes the fabric member in the form of an improvisedweltv member sole. The rand thus formed is pressed against the fabricmember and the under side of the inner sole while the upper side of theinner, sole is maintained against this pressure bythefelt member 37 tothe effect that the edge. or extremity of the shoe upper located betweenthe fabric member 20, and the inner sole 10 is embedded in the rand andvvery strongly secured thereby.

It will be apparent that I may secure any form of. shoeupper in themanner. described and form the strap members from various materials suchas, fabric, leather, rubber, and the like and that. I may employ variouscolor effects upon such strap members without departingfrom the spiritof my invention.

Having. thus described my invention what I claim as new is:

1. The processor shoe manufacture comprising supplying an inner solemember coated on its u der ide w t a ru be me t prq l e n a,

assembly by attaching strap members to the said under side of the innersole, covering said coated side of the inner sole together with theengaged portions of the strap members with a fabric material,temporarily fastening the said fabric mate rial upon the inner sole,placing said inner sole within a metal center plate member, said metalplate having an opening coincident with said inner sole, said fabricmaterial being in contact with the said metal platethroughout its basefor the purpose of forming a randed welt sole, fastening an outer rubbersole to the said fabric material, placing a felt member upon said innersole member, placing the sole assembly in a die adapted to conform thesaid unit assembly into a conventional sole shape, subjecting said dieand center plate to heat and pressure for the purpose of simultaneouslyforming a rand on the upper side of the outer sole and vulcanizing theinner surfaces of the sole assembly together, and gathering the saidstrap members to form a toe portion, a midsection, and a heel portionrespectively of the said shoe upper.

2. An improved process for manufacturing shoes comprising attaching anupper member to the under side of an inner sole member, securing afabric member below the said inner sole mem ber, interposing a centerplate member between the said fabric member and the said shoe upper,disposing an outer sole member below the said fabric member, forming arand on the outer sole adapted to fill in around the engaging upperskirt and vulcanizing all of the inner surfaces together.

3. An improved process for manufacturing shoes comprising the attachmentof an upper member to the under side of an inner sole member, securing afabric member below said inner sole, locating a metal center platemember adjacent the edges of said inner sole and above said fabricmember, disposing an outer sole member below said fabric member,positioning a felt memher on the upper side of said inner sole adaptedto maintain said side in a smooth state, forming. on the upper side ofsaid outer sole,conforming said fabric member into a welt sole memberdisposed over said rand, vulcanizing said outer sole, welt sole, andinner sole together. V

4.. The improved method of shoe manufacture comprising the attaching ofstrap members to the under side of an inner sole member, disposing saidinner sole upon a rubberized fabric material, temporarily fastening saidinner sole to said fabric material. applying a center plate memberaround said inner sole edge and upon said fabric mate.- rial, disposingan outer sole member below said fabric, positioning the whole in a die,the simultaneous, forming of a raised inner portion and depressed outerportion upon the upper surface of said outer sole and conformation andvulcanization of said fabric material, to the top surface of said raisedportion, the rim of. said raised portion, 7 and the depressed outerportion of said outer sole.

5. An improved process. for, manufacturing shoes comprising theattachment of an upper member to the under side of an inner sole member,securing a welt member below said inner sole, interposing a center platemember'between the said shoe upperand the welt solemember, disposing anouter sole below said welt member, locating a felt member on the upperside of inner sole, superimposing the whole in a die, forming a rand onthe upper side of the outer sole member adapted tohave the skirt of saidupper member and adjacent welt sole portions embedded therein, 150

securing outer sole, welt member, and inner sole and upper membertogether.

6. An improved process for manufacturing shoes comprising producing asole assembly by attaching a shoe upper member to an inner sole member,securing a welt sole member below the said inner sole, disposing anouter sole member below the said welt sole, applying a center plate incombination with a felt member to the said sole

